Jan was the earliest Europeansettler to the area, and gave the settlement its first name: Loonenburg. Jan Van Loon’s House still stands nearby, at 39 South Washington Street. Albertus’ house is in what was called the Upper Village. The house is rectangular with 1.5 stories with stone walls, although a gambrel roof was added between 1775–1800.

A stone house was built first, by Pieter Bronck, born in Jönköping, Sweden, a relative of Jonas Bronck, for whom the Bronx was named, who bought the property from native Americans. That was expanded soon after, and, in 1738 a larger brick house that was connected by a doorway was built by his grandson. The house is reputed to be the location where the Coxsackie Declaration of Independence was signed, more than a year before the Continental Congress signing in 1776.